“Quadrilaterals”
Lesson Plan by: Liz Myers
Lesson: Learn how to classify quadrilaterals.
Length: 40 minutes
Age or Grade Intended: 3rd Grade
Academic Standards: Mathematics
3.4.1 Identify quadrilaterals as four-sided shapes.
Performance Objectives: After constructing and labeling the 5 different quadrilaterals, the
students will be able to recognize and classify different quadrilaterals.
Advanced Preparation by Teacher:
 Create a cotton swab quadrilateral example
Assessment: The teacher will assess the student during observation and group work. The
assessment can take place if the teacher collects the cotton swab pages to grade.
Procedure:
Introduction/Motivation: Review the different types of triangles discussed yesterday in
class. Explain that quadrilaterals can also be classified into different types according to
their sides.
Step-by-Step Plan:
1. Ask the students to name some quadrilaterals that they know of. What
makes that quadrilateral a square? (EX.)
2. Have the students turn to page 454 in their math books. Discuss the 5
different types of quadrilaterals and their characteristics.
3. Hand out one piece of construction paper to each student. Have the students
pull out their glue and their scissors. Pass out cotton swabs to each group
and instruct the students to take 14 ½ swabs. Make sure they know to cut
one in half and share it with another student.
4. Show the example of the cotton swab quadrilaterals that is already made.
Tell the students to construct each type of quadrilateral with their cotton
swabs. They need to label each quadrilateral and give its characteristics.
Closure: Go over the different types of quadrilaterals with the students and their
characteristics. Have the students discuss their cotton swab quadrilaterals in their
groups and check to see if everyone is correct.